Investigation reveals how Cadman Cruises, Rockfish Charters party boats crashed in Sydney Harbour

More than 300 passengers were on board when two party boats collided on a busy stretch of Sydney Harbour. The findings of an investigation into the crash have now been revealed.

A photo of damage caused during the incident.

Deficiencies in safety management systems have been cited as a primary factor in a crash between two party boats on a busy stretch of Sydney Harbour.

The Office of Transport Safety Investigations (OTSI) has handed down its findings after investigating a collision between the John Cadman 3 vessel and the Rockfish 3 catamaran that unfolded just after 10pm on December 12, 2021.

The collision took place near the Sydney Harbour Bridge and left the catamaran – which was carrying 30 passengers – with extensive damage and resulted in part of the vessel ”hanging” over the John Cadman’s bow.

The John Cadman 3, which was carrying 224 passengers and eight staff at the time, was not left unscathed with the boat sustaining scratches to the bow and a broken flagpole.

No passengers or crew from either vessel were injured in the incident.

A photo of the boats prior to the collision.

The investigation has revealed the masters of both boats realised they were on a collision course prior to the crash but it “too late to take action” to prevent it from occurring.

Prior to the incident, the master of the John Cadman 3 had been focused on overtaking traffic on the harbour and did not see the approaching Rockfish 3 on the port bow.

A photo of damage caused to the Rockfish 3.

The design of the boat’s window structure also created “significant blind spots” for the master, which the investigation found likely concealed Rockfish 3 from the master’s view.

The master of the Rockfish 3 was meanwhile navigating the vessel with cabin lights illuminated in conditions which reduced the master’s ability to maintain a proper lookout.

The findings state the boat’s deckhand was focused on preparing the vessel for overnight shut down and was unaware of the approaching hazard.

In the final moments before the crash, the master of the John Cadman 3 attempted to sound the ship’s horn but “misspressed” the button in the dark.

The John Cadman 3 was carrying more than 200 passengers at the time.

When the Rockfish 3’s master saw the larger John Cadman 3, he realised they were about to collide at almost right angles and placed the throttles to full ahead, attempting to cross the oncoming vessel’s bow.

The collision resulted in the vessels becoming “entangled” before they managed to proceed together to Darling Harbour where passengers from both boats alighted.

The investigation identified several factors contributing to the crash and why the masters did not see the other vessel.

These included the use of temporary screens and illumination of the internal cabin which limited visibility, and deficiencies in both vessels’ execution and understanding of their safety management systems.

The shadow cast by the Sydney Harbour Bridge also made it challenging to “identify vessels and hazards” at night while the “multitude of coloured lights” from Luna Park added to the “confusion of backlight”.

In response to the incident, the operators of both boats have made various safety improvements including reviewing their safety management systems and procedures.

OTSI has made recommendations to both operators including further reviews of their safety management systems to incorporate measures to address operational risks when chartering passengers at night.

There is also a recommendation for the operators to carry out competency-based induction programs and ongoing refresher training for crew members.

Rockfish Charters – which operates Rockfish 3 – in a statement said the company’s safety management sysytem has been updated to reflect the recommendations.

“Our SMS and safety practices were updated shortly after the incident at the early recommendation of AMSA,” a spokesman said.

Cadman Cruises, which operates the John Cadman 3, was contacted for further comment but did not respond at the time of publication.